Tire spreader and tire iron



June 5, 1928. 1,672,060

J. 5. cuRTlss TIRE SPREADER AND TIRE IRON Filed Nov. 14, 1927 John J: Curl'zbts' emwmp.

Patented June 5, 1928.

-' Jomv s. 'cUR'rIs's, or EL. PAso, TEXAS.

arms. smmannn. Ann .TIRE I ON. Y

, Application filed November 14, 1927 Ser ialNo. 233,241..

.The present invention relates to improvements in a tire spreader and tire iron, such asis shown in the application of Arthur E. Johnson, filed October 20, 1927,"Serial No. 227,554 and entitled, Improvements in tire spreader. and tire iron; and has for an object to provide an improved implement useful in spreading apart the beads of automobile tire casings forthe purpose of giving 10 access to the interior portions of the tread in the search for tacks, nails, thorns, and other sharp foreign bodies which causes-puncture of inner tubes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a comparatively small portable implement capable of being carried in the vehicle, and acting not only to spread the tires as previously stated, but also useful'as a the iron for removing the tires from the rims.

view, the invention will be more. fully described hereinafter, and will be more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto. v

In the drawings, wherein like symbols refer to like or corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the improved implement constructed according to the present invention;

plement and of a portion ofa tire casing spread by the implement; and

Fig. 3 is a cross-section through the tire are aptto puncture-or injurethe inner tube.

The handle l, on account. of its relative posi casing taken on..the line 33 in Fig. 2, the tool being shown in elevation.

Referring more particularly-to the drawings, the improved-implement consists generally of two parts, welded or otherwise se- 40 its upper end 6 to conform to the shape of a tire iron, and at its lower end is thickened.

to resist the blows of a hammer.

The head 5 extends generally crosswise with respect to the handle 4, or in other with better facility. Both the handle 4 and head 5 may be constructed of any appropri* ate material. I

With the forgoing and other objects in Fig. 2 is a plan view of the improved im cured together, thatis of a handle 4'and-a. head piece 5. The handle 4 is tapered at, I

1 about in the tire.

in Fig. 2. As a consequence, the handle 4' V lVhen the two parts are secured "together as shown, thelhead piece' 5, from an edge w se aspect, is at substantially ",fr om the flatwise plane of the handle; while viewedfrom a lengthwise aspect of' the head piece 5, the same occupies a diagonal position with respect to the handle, or the handle and head piece are at substantially 45 to one another.

"The o pposite ends? and 8 of the head piece'5 areturned orcurvedin opposite di'-' rectlons, and arebent or shaped transversely into troughs :9. and 10. These troughs are convex asto their longitudinal surfaces extending lengthwise of the head piece 5, and are concave transversely. This construction reinforces and strengthens the head piece at the terminals thereof, where the same engage the beads 11 ofthe tire casing or shoe shown at 12.

' In the use of the device, the head piece 5 inserted within-the circle of the tire casing 12 and lengthwise in line with the open-' ing between thebeads'll. The end portions of the headpiece areinserted between the troughs9 and 10 of the head piece 5, which now extends transversely of the casing or shoe, and has pushed the beads apart, so

that access'may be readily had to the inner portion of thetreadof the tire for probing for nails and the like, the points of which hand and implement of the explorer.

The implement is made to walk about within the tire byshifting thehandle 4 back and forth and pushing or pulling the tool v This operation may be -conducted with one hand while the other hand is used to explorethe inner surface of the tire tread. The implement will remain in the position shown in'Fig. 2 without aid of the operator due to the inherent resili- H ency of the rubber tire pressing upon the transversely positioned head piece.

Prior to the exploration just referred to, i

it is essential that the tire casingbe removed from the rim, and the handle 4 will be found useful for this purpose the sharpened 0r "beveled end 6 being inserted between the tire beads and rim after a manner well known in this art.

It is sometimes desirable to use a hammer in the operation of the device, as for remov- 'ing the tire casing from the rim before inserting the tool in the casing, or for other purposes, and for this reason the blunt end 4 is provided opposite the tapered end 6- 01 the handle, which blunt end is thickened 20 of my invention and I do not mean-to limit the invention to such details, except as particularly pointed out in the claims. 7

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. A tire implement comprising a head having reversely curved and troughed oppositeends adapted to receive and spread the beads of a tire casing, and a handle at tached to-saidhead,- said handle havinga thickened blunt lower end.

2. An improved tire implementco'mprising a head piece having'reversely"curved and troughed, opposite end portions adapted to engage and spread the beads of-a tire casing, and a handle for the head extending diagonally from said liead, said handle liav ing a thickenedblunt lower end.

JOHN s: oueriss. 

